GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNCG women’s basketball team tied a program single-game record with 12 three-point field goals and outscored No. 23 Florida State 41-38 in the second half, but the Seminoles proved a bit too much for the Spartans Saturday, taking a 93-63 nonconference victory at the Greensboro Coliseum.

Freshman Lucy Mason led the Blue and Gold in scoring for the seventh time in 10 games this year, netting 21 points and hitting a career-high five three-point field goals. She also posted four assists and three steals. Sophomore Jessica Collins and freshman Ebona Goins also reached double figures with 11 each – a personal best for both players. On the glass, senior Sidnei Harmon paced the Spartans with eight boards.

UNCG’s 12 field goals came on 21 attempts, leaving the Blue and Gold at a season-best 57 percent from beyond the arc.

Florida State ended the contest with five players in double figures, led by Chasity Clayton who dropped in 21. The Seminoles held the upper hand from the field, firing at a 46-percent clip and knocking down 39 of 84 shots. UNCG turned in a 37-percent showing (23-for-63). The Spartans stayed pretty even with the bigger Florida State squad on the glass as the Seminoles finished with a 47-42 edge in rebounding – including a 22-18 margin on the offensive boards.

Leonor Rodriguez put Florida State ahead with a layup 35 seconds into the game and the Seminoles extended the lead to 5-0 before UNCG put together a 9-2 run, with the help of four points from Mason, to assume a 9-7 advantage with 15:35 on the clock.

The Seminoles put together a big run over the next eight minutes, holding the Spartans without a point while building a 30-9 cushion. A free throw shot by Goins ended the drought before a jumper by Collins left the score at 32-12 with 6:46 remaining in the half. The advantage grew to 33 on a jumper by Lauren Coleman, making it 48-15, and the teams would each score seven points the rest of the way as Florida State led 55-22 at the break. Harmon scored the last points of the period with an offensive rebound and a putback as time expired.

A layup by Rodriguez saw Florida State move in front by 40 points at 67-27 before a 13-10 stretch extended the cushion to 80-37. At that point, with 10:14 remaining in the game, UNCG made its push. Goins started it off with a three-pointer and Mason nailed three-straight shots from range to cut the deficit to 82-54, ending a 17-2 run which made the score 82-54 at the 4:49 mark. Junior Janae’ Stevenson put in a layup with 3:34 left but the Seminoles countered with seven-straight points on the way to delivering the game’s final score.

UNCG returns to the court after Christmas to close nonconference play, traveling to Birmingham, Ala. for a contest with UAB Sunday, Dec. 30. Tipoff at Bartow Arena is set for 2 p.m.

The loss was the third-straight for Samford and the Bulldogs drop to 5-5 on the season. Clemson improves to 4-7 with the win.

Samford was led in the game by Kendall Schwantz and Jazmine Martin with 15 points each. Shelby Campbell added 14 points and five assists for the Bulldogs.

For Clemson, Chancie Dunn led the way with 14 points. Nikki Dixon scored 13 points, while Quinyotta Pettaway added 10 points and 11 rebounds for the Lady Tigers.

Clemson jumped out to an early five-point lead at 8-3 with 16:30 left in the first half after a basket by Aisha Turner. Samford scored the next five points to tie the score at 8-8 with 14:45 to go in the half after a three-pointer by Hannah Dawson. Clemson then went on an 8-0 run to take an eight-point lead at 16-8 with 10:15 left after a jumper by Pettaway.

Samford closed to within five points on three different occasions, but could get no closer in the first half. Clemson pushed its lead to double digits for the first time at 27-17 with 1:45 left in the half after a basket by Turner. Overall, Clemson scored the final eight points of the half to take a 32-17 lead into halftime.

Samford scored the first five points of the second half to cut the Clemson lead to 10 points at 32-22 with 18:37 left following a jumper by Campbell. With Clemson leading, 36-24, Samford went on an 11-4 run to close to within five points at 40-35 with 13:56 to go after a three-pointer by Schwantz.

The Bulldogs cut the Clemson lead to just two points at 44-42 with 10:25 to go after a layup by Campbell. The Lady Tigers, however, built their lead back out to eight points at 53-45 with 8:03 to go after a basket by Charmaine Tay. Samford could get no closer than six points the rest of the way as Clemson pulled away for the 63-51 win.

As a team, Samford made 38.5 percent of its shots overall and 39.1 percent of its three-pointers. Clemson shot 45.1 percent overall and just 25.0 percent from beyond the arc. Clemson outrebounded Samford, 42-24.

Samford will return to action on Saturday, Dec. 29, when the Bulldogs play at Auburn. The game is scheduled for a 2 p.m. start from Auburn Arena.

Vanderbilt 69, College of Charleston 44

NASHVILE, Tenn. – The College of Charleston women’s basketball team got off to a strong start, but could not hold on as they fell 69-44 at Vanderbilt Saturday.

Seniors Latisha Harris and Megan Fischer each scored 10 points to lead the Cougars (4-5, 2-0) against the Commodores (9-3, 0-0).

The Cougars initially trailed 8-2, but a three-pointer by senior Cathryn Hardy ignited a 9-2 run to put them up 11-10 at the 12:47 mark of the first half.

CofC continued to keep the pressure on Vanderbilt as they led by as many as three points at 19-16, but the Commodores closed the half on a 13-2 run to lead 29-21 at the half.

In the second half Vanderbilt continued their momentum as they shot over 43 percent in the second half and had 22 points in the paint and 42 points in the paint for the game.

The Cougars forced Vanderbilt into 20 turnovers and scored 14 points off those turnovers versus Vanderbilt, who forced 17 turnovers and got 10 points off those turnovers.

The Cougars played their sixth all-time game against an SEC school, but have still not prevailed in those six matchups.

Up next the Cougars take time off for the holiday before returning home to host Richmond Dec. 28 at 7:00 p.m.